Anglia

Elderly woman stabbed in Luton

A murder inquiry has begun after a woman driver was stabbed in Luton. The woman in her 70s was treated by paramedics at the scene of the attack in Trent Road, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Members of the public detained a man, who is in his 50s and known to the victim, before officers arrived.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to Luton police station for questioning and subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

Family liaison officers continue to support Mrs Evans's family and Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Hutchinson of the major crime unit (MCU) is keen to trace anyone who may have relevant information.

He said: "This was a terribly distressing attack on a defenceless woman who had recently married and should have been enjoying life with her family.

"We are in the process of trying to piece together exactly what happened prior to the stabbing and although we have arrested a man in connection with this incident, this inquiry is not solved and we do want to hear from anyone else who can help with information about what happened.

"You may have been walking past just before or after the incident, or saw something or someone that was unusual, as you drove or walked along Trent Road.

"You may have already dismissed this information as insignificant or thought that the arrest of a person made it less important to us.

"Please don't assume that someone else has told us, or that we already know. Please come forward if you were in the area so that we have the fullest picture possible to help us complete this inquiry."

Police have made a new appeal for information after May Evans was stabbed to death in Luton.

DCI Hutchinson said: “This was a terribly distressing attack on a defenceless woman who had recently married and should have been enjoying life with her family.

“We are in the process of trying to piece together exactly what happened prior to the stabbing and although we have arrested a man in connection with this incident, this enquiry is not solved and we do want to hear from anyone else who can help with information about what happened."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bedfordshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after being detained by members of the public following the stabbing of an elderly woman motorist in Luton, police said.

Bedfordshire Police said the victim, a woman in her 70s, was fatally injured around 3pm on Monday in Trent Road.

A man in his 50s was detained by members of the public at the scene and police arrested the man, who was known to the victim, on suspicion of attempted murder.

He was taken to Luton Police Station for questioning and subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers were called to the incident following reports that a woman, who has yet to be identified, had received stab wounds. She was treated by paramedics at the scene but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Forensic officers were at the scene throughout the afternoon and evening.

The victim's family is being supported by specialist officers and Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Hutchinson of the Major Crime Unit (MCU) is keen to trace anyone with information.

He said: "We have launched a murder investigation and a team of detectives is now piecing together exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the incident in Trent Road this afternoon but I would like to reassure residents that this is an isolated incident.

"This is obviously an extremely difficult time for the victim's family but our officers are working with them to establish what happened prior to the incident.

"While we have already spoken to a number of witnesses I would like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who may have seen the incident itself or anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward and speak with the police in complete confidence."

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The woman in her 70s was treated by paramedics at the scene of the attack in Trent Road, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

DCI Hutchinson said. "We have launched a murder investigation and a team of detectives is now piecing together exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the incident in Trent Road, but I would like to reassure residents that this is an isolated incident."